How to Prepare for an MRI exam

Transcription

1 Patient Preps All Patients having procedures at IMI must have an order form or a prescription from their referring physician. Please arrive 15 minutes prior to your exam and wear loose fitting clothing. You may be asked to change into a gown if your clothing interferes with the exam or the images. How to Prepare for an MRI exam (NPO=Nothing by mouth) **Very important**** If you have any mechanical transplanted device such as a Pacemaker, defibrillator, stimulator or pump, you may not be able to have an MRI unless it is MRI compatible. Please let you referring physician know or let the schedulers know upon scheduling. When undergoing an MRI scan, it is important for you to remove any metallic objects such as car keys, watches, hairpins as well as removable dental work as they all have the ability to interfere with the magnetic fields in the MRI machine. The data on credit cards are easily erased by the strong magnetic field. Moreover, you may be asked to remove all your clothing and requested to wear a gown, if your clothing contains any metal such as snaps, hooks or zippers. Ladies my wish to wear a sports bra and elastic waist pants. MRCP/MR Abdomen: NPO 4 hours before exam. MR Breast: If the patient still has a menstrual cycle patient must be scheduled 6 to 12 days after the start of her cycle. MR Prostate: Patient to eat light meals 24 hours prior to exam. 1 to 3 hours prior exam patient is to take a Fleet enema. MRCP: NPO 4 hours prior How to prepare for a CT exam (NPO=Nothing by mouth) In general, no special preparation is required for a CT scan. Comfortable, loose clothing should be worn, although in some cases a patient will be asked to change into a hospital gown for the examination. It is also important to remove any metal prior to the exam: jewelry, dentures, eyeglasses, belt buckles, and metal zippers and buttons can interfere with the images. You may be asked to limit eating and drinking to clear liquids, such as water, black coffee and tea, and broth for several hours prior to the appointment for a CT scan. This request will be dependent upon the type of examination. For many CT examinations, a contrast agent (a liquid that enhances imaging of certain organs or blood vessels) will be administered. Depending on the type of examination, the contrast may be

2 given orally, intravenously, or both. Please inform the schedulers if you are allergic to shellfish, iodine or have had an allergic reaction to contrast in the past. If you are having a contrast exam and you are over the age of 50 or have or have had kidney issues you will be required to have lab work to check your kidney functions before we administer any IV contrast. Abdomen: NPO 2 hours before exam. Oral contrast will be administered at IMI Brain w/contrast: NPO 2 hours before exam Brain w/o contrast: Chest w/ contrast: NPO 2 hours before exam Pelvis or Abdomen and Pelvis: NPO 2 hours before exam must pick up Redicat contrast 1 day before exam. Enterography: Liquids only 4 hours prior to exam. No solid foods. Oral contrast will be administered at IMI 1 hour before exam. Stone study: Urogram: NPO 2 hours prior Angiogram: No solid foods 2 hours prior Coronary Artery: Calcium Score: No caffeine 12 hrs prior, No solid foods 4 hours prior, Drink two 8 oz glasses of water 1 hour prior Take 100mg of Lopressor or Metroprolol supplied by IMI 1 hour prior to exam

3 Abdomen: Echocardiogram: Liver: Gall Bladder: Kidney/Renal: Right Upper Quadrant: Pancreas: Aorta: Pyloric: NPO 2 to 3 hours before exam How to Prepare for an Ultrasound Procedure: (NPO=nothing by mouth) Pelvic: Full bladder, 32 ounces (water, tea, coffee) 1 hour prior to exam, do not void. Pelvic w/trans vaginal: Full bladder, 32 ounces (water, tea, coffee) 1 hour prior to exam, do not void. OB: Full bladder, 32 ounces (water, tea, coffee) 1 hour prior to exam, do not void Gender Package: Must be at least 26 weeks gestation Must have letter from referring physician stating the patient is under their care and has a normal pregnancy. Test is for entertainment reasons only; it is not a diagnostic exam. Patient will be required

4 to sign a waiver Patient does not have to have a full bladder. Thyroid: Thyroid Biopsy: Patient to be off Plavix 1 week prior, Coumadin 4 days prior, Aspirin 24 hours prior, may resume after procedure. Bring a list of medications with dosage amounts Patient can take morning medications, unless they are blood thinners. IVP: How to prepare for Fluoro procedures (NPO=nothing by mouth) Drink 10 ounces of Magnesium Citrate (cold) the night before the exam, clear liquids only after midnight up to the time of the exam. UGI and/or Small Bowel Study: NPO after midnight BE or Barium Enema: Purchase at your Pharmacy at least 2 days prior to your exam 1. One 238 gram bottle of Miralax over the counter. 2. Two Dulcolax laxative tablets 5mg over the counter. (no suppositories) 3. One 64 ounce bottle of Gatorade. (Diabetics may substitute Pedialyte) The day before your exam: 1. Clear Liquid Diet It is very important to drink plenty of clear liquids throughout the entire day. Do not eat any solid food. 2. Follow the schedule in the table below for your bowel prep. Plan to remain within easy reach of the restroom. You will have many bowel movements throughout the day. They will become very watery. The bowels are clear or clean when there is only pale yellow fluid without flecks of stool. Noon: Open your 64 ounce bottle of Gatorade and discard 10 ounces from the bottle. Then empty the 238 gram bottle of Miralax into the bottle of Gatorade. Cap the bottle and shake to dissolve the powder then refrigerate.

5 3pm to 5pm: Take 2 Dulcolax tablets with a glass of water. 5pm to 7pm: Start to drink the Miralax solution. Drink one 8oz glass every 15 minutes until solution is gone. * If you have mild discomfort or bloating stop drinking for a while or wait longer between drinks. Midnight: Do not eat or drink anything until your test is completed. IMPORTANT TIPS If you are diabetic: Clear liquid diet list: If you take insulin, contact the prescribing physician for instructions. If you take oral medications for diabetes, you should not take them the night before or the morning of the exam. This should be verified with the prescribing physician. Soft drinks regular or diet sodas (Ginger ale, cola, Sprite, 7-up, etc). Ginger ale may help to settle the stomach. Sport or power drinks with electrolytes may be helpful. You may wish to dilute to decrease sweetness. Strained fruit juices without pulp (apple, white grape, iced teas) NO ORANGE JUICE! Water, clear flavoured waters or seltzer Black tea or coffee No milk of non-dairy creamer. You may have any type of sugar or sweetener. Fat free chicken or beef broth (prefer low sodium) Hard candies (lifesavers, etc.) Plain Jello No fruits or toppings Popsicles, Italian Ice NO sherbets or fruit bars Your body loses significant amounts of fluid during bowel preparation. In order to prevent dehydration, it is important to supplement that fluid loss with clear liquids. Make a conscious effort to drink as much as you can before and during the preparation. Bone Scan: How to prepare for Nuclear Medicine Procedures (NPO=nothing by mouth) Bone Scan 3 phase: This exam is a 2 part exam, morning injection and back 3-4 hours later for actual scan. Hydrate well prior to exam, drink at least 2 cups of water No restrictions on food

6 Same as Bone scan prep except scanning will be done in the morning after the injection and return 3-4 hours later for actual scan. Gastric Emptying Scan: Hida Scan: Muga Scan: NPO after midnight No medications or cigarettes NPO after midnight No medications after midnight Parathyroid scan: Renal Scan: Drink 2 cups or more of fluids prior to exam, no other restrictions

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